Drink mixer switch



\ S. BLOOMFIELD DRINK MIXER SWITCH Feb. 14, 1939.

Filed Dec. 5, 1936 INVENTOR. BY j y HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to drink mixers, and particularly to an improvedform of standard and automatic switching mechanism therefor.

More particularly stated, the invention provides a novel switch adaptedto be mounted interiorly of the mixer standard, and having an operatingmember extended from the standard for engagement by a mixing cup tostart the mixing motor when the cup is in position and stop the motorwhen the cup is removed. The mounting of this switch is facilitated bynovelly constructing the standard in two sections, a feature which alsofacilitates the manufacture and handling of the mixer unit,

Further and more particular features of construction and operation willappear as the following particular description proceeds in view of theseveral figures of the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the improved mixer;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of one form of novel switch;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the switch of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional operating detail of the switch of Fig.5 in operated condition;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a modified form ofswitch operating structure.

In the art to which the present invention apertains, it is commonpractice to provide switching mechanism on the mixer standard which isadapted to be operated by variously arranged mechanisms responsive tothe placing of the mixing cup in position, and it is a particular objectof the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and ruggedswitch of this general class which is very easily mounted within themixer standard, and which is very easy to manufacture. In addition, thestandard is divided into two sections, which facilitates the placementof the switch within the same.

As seen in Fig, 1, the mixer standard comprises a base part having asubstantially central bore l2, and terminating at its upper extremity ina gentle taper I4.

The upper section or goose-neck [6 has at its lower extremity aninterior taper generally indicated at 18, such that the goose-neck maybe telescoped upon the tapered upper end portion of the base 10, a setscrew 20 being threaded through the lower portion of the goose-necktaper for engagement in a threaded or unthreaded opening in the base. Ausual form of mixing motor 22 is bolted into a cradle yoke 23 at theupper extremity of the goose-neck, and is provided with the usualdepending mixing shaft 24. A downwardly depending cup clip 26 is securedby screw means 2'! beneath the goose-neck, on the exterior of the uppersection of the {standard adjacent 'the' motor, while the lower supportfor the cup is provided by the operating knob of the novel switch to bedescribed hereafter.

As seen by convenient reference between Figs. 2 and 3, one preferredform of the novel switch includes a stationary insulating block 30secured interiorly of the lower standard section by a counter-sunk setscrew 32." This block has an upwardly extending and tapered contact plug34, preferably enlarged at its lower end within the insulating block,for threadable engagement by a contact screw 36 to which one of theconductor's 3] in the circuit of motor 22 is conted V A movable or jackconnecting block 40 is carried in a metal jacket or frame 42 andslidable toward and away from the stationary contact 34 by virtue of thefollowing described construction. The frame 42 preferably comprises abase portion 43 having at its longitudinal extremities on both sides apair of stuck-up arms, the uppermost end portions 4 5 of which areturned inwardly so as to hook around the upper edge portions of theinsulating block 40 when the latter is pressed between the oppositelydisposed pairs of arms. An upper end portion of the base 43 is struckoverto provide an end'wall 46 having an integrally struck or attachedeyelet 41, in which is engaged a tension spring 48, this spring beinganchored by means of a screw 49 to the inner side of the main standardso as to urge the movablecontact structure away from the stationarycontact or plug 34.

The moving or jack contact member is further provided with a metallicinsert contract 50 secured in place by threadable engagement with ascrew 5| extending into .the insulating block, and to which the otherconductor 35 of the switch circuit cable is connected. The insulatingblock 40 and the insert contact 59 are drilled in a longitudinal sense,and tapered for a snug contact fit with the stationary contact 34.Extended outwardly from the :base portion 43 or the jacket or frame is.a threaded lug 52 of sufiicient length to pass through a verticallyelongated slot 53 in the front vertical wall portion of the standard,for threadable engagement with a bottom supporting lug 54. The bottomsupporting lug '54 is a knob-shaped member preferably of'insulat'ingmaterial, and desirably of eration of the mixer.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified form of the switch operating mechanism inwhich the construction of the switch itself is substantially identicalwith that shown and described in connection with Fig. 3, the differencebeing found in the mechanism for engaging the mixing cups to operate theswitch, and particularly in the fact that the lug or knob 54 has beenomitted and a switch-v operating stud 58 extended from the base portionas through the vertical slot 53 in the front wall of the standard. I

In order to support the bottom of the cup 9 in mixing position, a novelbracket 62 is attached in its lower regions to the front wall of thelower' standard by means of screws 63, and has an angularly offset upperend portion 64 provided with an elongated opening or slot 65 whichterminates at its lower end in an enlarged area 66 below the bend $7,between the oifset upper portion and the lower portion of the bracket.The enlarged portion 66 of the bracket slot 35 is positioned adjacentthe lowermost extremity of the vertical standard slot 53 in such mannerthat the switch-operating stud 60 may be moved downwardly to the lowerlimit of its travel, with the end portions of the stud having passeddownwardly through the slot portion 65 in the offset end portion of thebracket, and with the innermost portion of the stud 66 resting in andagainst the lower enlarged region of the bracket in thepositionillustrated in Fig. 4. r

' The operation of the device is such that, assuming the motor 22 to beconnected with a source of power, circuit to which is completed throughthe conductors 35-31, the operator may position the mixing cup 9 byfirst urging the upper rim portions thereof beneath and upwardly underthe spring finger 26, which movement will bring the base of the cup at apoint substantially above either the bottom stopping lug or knob 54 orthe operating pin 60, depending upon which type of switch is being used,and thereafter the bottom of the cup may be moved inwardly toward thestandard and the cup permitted to settle a short distance so as to causethe concave bottom portion thereof to engage and bear downwardly againstthe knob 54 or pin 68. Thereafter, the weight of the cup and itscontents will urge the knob 5G or the pin 60 in a downward direction tothe bottom limit of the slot 53 in the standard, and the moving jackcontact will tension its spring 4-3 as it moves downwardly and telescopein contacting relation with the stationary contact 54, thus completingthe circuit to the motor and driving the mixing stem 24 thereof.

When the mix is completed, the lower portion of the cup Q is simplypulled outwardly away from the standard, thus disengaging the bottom ofthe cup from the knob 54 or the pin 50, and bracket arm 64, andpermitting the tension spring 48 to snap the moving contact blockupwardly out of engagement with the stationary contact plug 34 to breakthe circuit and stopthe motor. Thus the motor circuit is broken quicklyand surely,

with no other action on the part of the operator than that ofwithdrawing the cup from its support.

In the case of the form of Figs. 1 and 2, the conical shape of the knob54 and the angular disposition of the concave bottom rim portions of thecup 9, provide a relatively secure engagement between the cup and bottomsupporting stud which obviates any danger of the cup falling away fromits support, while at the same time the formation of these cooperatingparts requires a minimum of effort in disengaging the cup from suchsupport.

In the form of Fig. 5, the angular disposition of the offset arm 6d ofbracket 62 is adapted to correspond to the angular disposition of therim portion of the concave cup bottom, the engagement of the rim withthe switch-operating stud or pin fill being entirely adequate tomaintain the pin at a level below the ofiset arm portion 64, so thatwhen the bottom of the cup is. moved outwardly away from the standard indisengaging the same, it will glide easily off the upper angular bracketextension and off the pin 60 to permit the latter and its movable switchmember to snap into open circuit position.

It should be observed in the drawings that in their normal open circuitrelationship, the fixed or stationary contact and the movable or jackcontact are spaced apart a distance sufficient to bring the upper endportion 34' of the stationary contact pin 34 safely away from themovable contact sleeve 50, while at the same time not removing thesleeve portion of the movable insulating block 40 entirely out ofengagement with the upper end 34 of the pin 34. Thus the movable contactis provided with a guiding means which assures that the movable andstationary contact members will always be in smooth operatingrelationship.

From the foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel switchmechanism comprising a stationary contact plug and a movable jack blocktelescopingly engageable against the tension of an opening spring withthe stationary plug, the switch being simply mounted within a hollowstandard and the movable or jack contact having a stud portion extendedthrough the frame for operative engagement with the bottom of a mixingcup. It will further be observed that I have provided a simple change inthe standard by dividing the same into two telescoping sections, thusrendering the interior of the standard readily accessible for mountingof the switch and making desired connection or repairs. Moreover, I haveprovided a novel switch operating pin and cooperating cup supportadapted to replace the conically-shaped knob or button type of supportwhere desired.

The embodiment particularly described herein for illustrative purposesis susceptible of various changes, all of which are embraced andcontemplated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is: e

l. A drink mixer switch for mounting in a hollow mixer standard andcomprising an insulating member attached in said mixer standard, anelongated plug contact extended from said insulating member, a secondinsulating member having an elongated bore and contact means at anextremity thereof, a metallic frame member supportably embracing saidsecond insulating member, cup supporting means including an operatingarm extended from said frame member and constructed for engagement withthe bottom of a mixing cup in such manner that the Weight of the latterwill move said frame member toward said contact plug and telescope saidsecond insulating member on said plug to position the said contactmember in said second insulating member in contacting engagement withsaid plug, together with spring means attached to said stand-- ard andsaid frame and normally holding the frame and said second insulatingmember in position such that said contact means in the latter will bepositioned out of operative engagement with said plug member, a portionof said bore at all times embracing said plug.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the provision of abracket mounted on said standard and having a substantially horizontallyextensive offset portion provided with an aperture into which said armfrom the frame member may descend when said switch is operated by a cupas set forth, said bracket supporting said cup in cooperation with cupengaging means on said standard.

3. In a drink mixer having a standard, a motor, and cup engaging means,cup-operated motor switch means mounted in the standard and having aswitch-operating arm protruding exteriorly thereof, and a cup-supportingbracket on said standard and having an offset cup-bottom supportingportion with an aperture into which said switch-operating arm is movedby the weight of the cup to actuate the switch with the bottom of thecup resting on said oiTset portion of the bracket.

4. In combination: a standard for a drink mixer, a support carried bythe standard and comprising a supporting lip having an elongated slotformed therein, and on which lip a cup is adapted to be positioned, anda switch mechanism including a movable operating stud and means formovably supporting said stud for movement into and from the slot of saidlip, the said stud being movable into said slot by the Weight of a cuppositioned upon said stud and supported by said supporting lip.

SAMUEL BLOOMFIELD.

